Hey guys, I'm new to this forum and am in dire need of your help. Before you scold me I have looked around on the neon forum for the info I'm looking for but couldn't find exactly what I'm looking for.

At any rate I have a 2000 Dodge Neon 2.0 SOHC with 130K miles. To make a long story short my timing belt snapped last weekend on the freeway doing about 80mph. I'm pretty mechanically inclined so I decided to replace the belt myself. I followed the book to the letter of the law. Aligning the crank to TDC and also aligning the cam shaft sprocket to TDC. I put everything together and fired it up and got nothing. No combustion what so ever. I know I may have bent some valves in the process (which I was already planning to fix) but I thought I would atleast hear the motor sputter and attempt to start. All I got was the sound of the engine turning the belts. I have spark and fuel. Could it be that the valves are so jacked that I'm getting nothing? Or could it be that I'm 180° off in locating the cam shaft? I'm a little baffled here. Any help from you guys would be great!!!!

 

If your timing belt snapped at 80mph, its basically guaranteed that the valves are bent pretty severely. Now as far as the timing is concerned, the cam sprocket should be set at TDC, while the crank sprocket should be 1/2 notch before TDC, that way when you install the belt/tensioner the belt will tighten up and pull that 1/2 notch and make the crank sprocket at TDC. However, even IF your timing is off the 1/2 notch, the engine still should have started, but then died...

Your valves need replaced, so I would just pull the head, replace the valves, then re-do the timing job and give it a shot.

 

Snapped belt at 80 MPH=Bent valves. You have a little more work ahead of you.

 

Thanks for the info guys. One more additional question if I may?
I got one of my buddies telling me that even though I had the camshaft aligned at TDC that I may have to give 1 more complete revolution at the same mark. I guess the real question I'm asking here is, does one complete revolution of the camshaft sprocket = one complete revolution of the camshaft. Sorry if this sounds confusing, I'm just trying to rule everything out here.

Having said that I'm going to remove the head tonight and see how everything looks.

What do you guys think the right approach is with regards to the bent valves.
1-take my existing head down to a machine shop and have the valves replaced and the head checked out.
2-buy a used head that is already good and just swap it out.

Thanks again!!!!!

 

I say #1 unless you can get a head cheap from someone or have a spare laying around like I did.

 

the camshaft turns at one half of crankshaft speed.

 

You should be able to find a used standard SOHC head for cheaper then the cost of the valves and labor. Its the Mag cylinder heads that cost the money in the used market...

 

Decided to just pop in a new (used) motor. Picked up a 2001 with 46k miles for $500. A lot of people are telling me that often times the bottom end will go out after the top end has been replaced, this is what made me decide to just replace the motor. Besides, the current motor I have has 140k miles on it.

If any of you guys have removed the engine from a neon (which I'm sure you have......several times). Any tips on what needs to come off to get that sucker out of there would be great. I've gotten everything pretty much disconnected but it's a pretty tight squeeze in there. I'm curious, do I still need to remove the timing belt (front) cover for more room when removing the engine. Also, can this be done without removing the transmission as well?

Thanks guys, any info. is appreciated

 

not to be a *** but if you have to ask if you can remove a engine without seperating it from the tranny then leave it alone and bring it somewhere to get done...seriously.........

 

Not to be an *** dodgetech81 but read the question. Here, I'll restate it for you.......................

Also, can this be done (replacing the motor) without removing the transmission (that is from the car).

I'm no pro mechanic by any means hence the reason why I'm on this forum asking advice from the expert gear heads here.
I'm a mechanical engineer who is more mechanically inclined than most.............mechanical engineers. I've replaced motors in the past but not this motor specifically, that's why I'm asking questions. Sometimes front wheel drive cars can be a royal bitch to remove and on occasion it's feasable to remove both the tranny and the engine during an engine replacement.